Display stands



Jan. 5, 1960 L. H. BEST ETAL DISPLAY STANDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2, 1956 HI Ill f lll lr lru Inventor's Leon J1. Best 20 rel? Souriarz L. H. BEST ETAL Jan 5, 1960 DISPLAY STANDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1956 Inventors Leon 51'. B651 Zareb Sour-{0:2

United States Patent 2,919,812 DISPLAY STANDS Leon H. Best, Galva, Ill., and Zareh Sourian, New York, N.Y., assignors to John H. Best & Sons, Inc., Galva, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 2, 1956, Serial No. 575,554 Claims. 01. 211-45 This invention relates to display stands or so-called display racks for displaying samples of rugs or the like.

In displaying samples of rugs or the like conveniently for examination, this has been accomplished by supporting the samples on a stand such that one sample overlies the next in a stack, and in comparing designs and colors it has been necessary to leaf through the samples and fold back edges in order that one sample can be compared to another.

The primary object of the present invention is to so construct a stand for displaying rug samples or the like,

progressive manner whereby the lower edge of each sample is exposed substantially to enable comparisons to be made at a glance.

Stated in other words, the primary object of the present invention is to enable rug samples to be compared at a glance without the necessity of lifting each sample .or leafing through the stack of samples to compare one sample to another. Rug samples or like samples usually are furnished in standard length for display purposes, and in attaining the above objects, resort is had under the present invention to an S-shaped display panel having a curvature which inherently produces a fan fold of the lower edges of the samples. The panel is so arranged that the supporting surface slopes gradually upwardly from a lower end of the panel that is spaced relatively close to the floor of the sample room, so that the upper end of the panel is substantially above floor level. Another object of the present invention is to adequately support the upper end of the panel by a base of novel structure, and to support the panel in the portions intermediate the ends thereof and impart to the panel the desired curvature by ribs that are comple mental to the shape of the panel, these ribs being widened or thickened in the portions beneath the upper extent of the panel where the weight of the rug samples is greatest.

As was mentioned, rug samples or like samples that are to be displayed generally are furnished in standard or uniform dimensions. In those instances where samples of relatively short length are furnished, resort may be had in accordance with the present invention alone to the S-shaped panel. This panel at the upper end is provided with retainer means for holding aligned the upper ends of the rug samples on the stand, and the curvathat lower edges of the samples are cascaded in a ture of "the panel inherently produces the desired fanfold effect at the bottom of the stand. The bottom of the stand is somewhat extensive in a forward direction. This displays the endsof the samples conveniently in a horizontal plane, and such is a further object of the present invention.

'There are instances where it may be desired to dis play a relatively large number of over-sized samples.

' Under such circumstances, the stand of the present invention is adapted at the lower end of the S -shaped panel to f rem'ovably mount a forward, horizontal extension. Samples having the same dimensions as the samples that 2,919,812 Patented Jan. 5, 1960 Those of the samples having end portions on the extension of the stand are fastened at their upper ends to fastening means on the S-shaped panel that are arranged progressively below the aforesaid retaining means, and the accomplishment of this manner of displaying rug samples constitutes a further object of the present invention.

A further object of the present invention is to afiord a pocket at the back of a display stand which is affordedby base structure used to support the upper end of the stand above floor level, and to locate this pocket so that overhanging ends. of samples at the rear of the stand will be disposed in the pocket. Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what We now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the display stand of the present invention including the extension;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the display stand shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the display stand shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspectiveon an enlarged scale-showing the way in which the extension is removably fastened to the lower end of the S-shaped display panel;

Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed sectional views taken substantially on the lines 55 and 6-6 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 77 of Fig. l.

The present invention is illustrated in the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7 as embodied in a display stand 20, which in the present instance is adapted primarily for floor support, and in order that the stand may be moved about the display room, casters 21, Fig. 3, are provided at the rear of the stand on base structure that will be described hereinbelow, other casters 22, Fig. 2, are provided at the lower or bottom end of the display panel, and in those instances where an extension is used, casters 23, Fig. 7, are provided at the forward end of the extension. I

Under the present invention, certain of the rug samples are supported on a substantially S-shaped panel 25 of readily bendable sheet material such as quarter inch plywood or the like. The arrangement is such .that the lower end portion 26, Fig. 7, of the panel 25 is supported just above floor level by the casters 22. In the present instance, the casters 22 are attached to a cross bar 30, Fig. 7, that is fastened to the end of the panel 25 so as to extend across substantially the full width of the forward end portion 26 of the. panel 25 as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2. A flat strip 31, Figs. 5 and 6, is fastened to the upper face of the bar 30 so as to abut the forward edge of the panel 25, and as will be observed in Fig. 1, the strip 31 is notched on either side at 31N for a purpose to be mentioned below. -A thin strip 32, Figs. 5 and 6, is fastened to the upper face of the bar 30 rearward'ly of the strip 31, and the bottom of the panel 25 is notched at its forward end as can be appreciated from Figs. 5 and 6 so that the strip 32 is adapted to fit therein for nailing the bar 30 to. the panel 25.

In achieving the desired S-sha3e for the panel 25, quarter inch plywood is preferably 1. ed. and this may be faced with gloss surfacing 255, l S, of z mately one-eighth inch in thi ness. To impnt tl sired S-shape to the panel 25, resort is had prim a pair of rigid ribs 35 and 35 having upper edges which embody the configuration that is desired to impart to the panel 25. Thus, in chest the upper edges of the ribs 35 and 36 constitute half a sine curve in each in stance, and the panel 25 ay be nailed or screwed to the upper edges of me ribs and 36 to assume the con figuration shown in Fig. 7. Braces 37 and are used between the ribs 35 and as as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 The display panel 25 is supported at its upper end portion by a base 4% Fig. 7. The base includes a forward wall 41 inclined in a forward direction from the vertical as shown in Fig. 7, so that the upper end thereof engages the bottom of the panel forwardly of the rear end 42 of the panel 25. Vertical strips and 44- are fastened by wood screws 45 in spaced relation to the side of the wall ii that faces the ribs 35 and as, and wood screws 47 are used in turn to fasten the strips 47 to the inner faces of the ribs 35 and as as will be observed particularly in Fig. 3.

The base 40 includes side walls and 51 which, as will be observed in Fig. l, are slightly inwardly of the outer edges of the panel 25. The side walls are, for a purpose to be mentioned, somewhat V-shaped in outline as will be observed in Fig. 7, and each such side wall proceeding from the rear edge is formed with a horizontal shoulder 55 which terminates at a ve tical extension 56 of the side wall. The extensions 56 extend upwardly to the upper edges of the side walls 5-8 and 51, and these upper edges are shaped complementary to the upper portion of the panel 25 between the wall 41 and the outer edge of vertical extension 56 of the side wall of the base 40 so as to complementally e gage the bottom of the panel 25 at this area. it will t s be seen that the panel 25 is supported in a relatively rigid manner at the upper end portion thereof, the portions of the upper end of the panel 25 that overlie the upper edges of the side walls 50 and 51 of the base 4i) being fastened ti. reto in a convenient manner as by wood screws.

As will be described, the upper ends of certain of the samples that are being displayed are clamped to the stand, and to rigidify the upper end of the panel 25 for this purpose, bracer strips s0, 61 and 62, Fig. 3, are arranged beneath the bottom of the panel 25 at the upper area thereof so as to extend rearwardly from the rear face of the wall 41 as shown in Pig. 7. These bracers are anchored to the wall 41 at their forward ends, and the rear ends of these bracers terminate at a molding strip 65 which is used to finish off the exposed ends of the structure at the upper end of the stand.

A pocket 70, Figs. 1 and 7, is provided at the back of the stand for a purpose to be mentioned below, the front wall of this pocket being afforded by the wall 4-1 of the base 40. Extending between the side walls 58) and 51 of the base 44 is another wall 72, and this wall defines the rear wall of the pocket 70 as will be ob served in Fig. 7. It was mentioned that the wall 4-1 is inclined. The wall 72, it will be observed, is inclined in the opposite direction, and this defines a relatively large pocket 70 substantially of V-shape. it is d sirable of course that unencumbered access be after for the pocket 79. It is for this reason that he side we 50 and 51 are provided wtih the shoulders 55 thus to lo cate the rear wall 72 of the pocket substantially rearwardly of the rear edge of the panel 25. The bottom of the pocket 70 is defined by a horizontal strip 75, F i. 1 and 7, which extends between the side walls and 51. To enable the pocket to be cleaned or swept out conveniently, the bottom strip 75 is provided with an opening 76 intermediate the ends thereof, and the bottom strip 75 also serves as a support for the casters 21.

Certain of the rug samples, as R1, R2 and R3 in the present instance, Pig. 7, are held or clamped to the upper end portion of the panel 25 with the rear edges thereof ali ned as will be observed. One way of achieving this by a clamping bar 89 which extends across the top of the panel 25 as will be observed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The clamp bar has an opening at either end thereof, and push rods 81 and 32 are extended through these open ings and are passed downwardly through guide bosses 33 and 34, this being in accordance with the arrangement described in U.S. Patent 2,137,748 and reference may be had thereto for details. Thus, in clamping the samples R1, R2 and R3, the ends thereof are arranged ben th the clamp bar St and it may be pointed out that the push rods and 82 are spaced apart a greater width than the rug samples. After the desired number of rug samples have thus had the upper ends thereof disposed eath the clamp bar 81?, the rods 31 and 32 are pushed -"iwnwardly so as to tightly clamp the rug samples been the clamp bar as and the panel 25. A spring ed lever 85, Fig. 7, angularly engages each of the rods 81 and 81; t either side of the stand so as to hold the rods firmly in the positions they assume when the rug samples are clamped, this being in accordance with the arrangement described in the aforesaid patent. To release the clamp bar 80, release pins 87 and 88 are affordcd, and these release pins engage the related levers as 85, so that by actuating the release pins 87 and 83 the levers '55 are released to enable the rods '81 and 82 to be withdrawn upwardly.

The configuration of the panel 25 inherently produces a cascading of the lower ends of the rug samples R1, R2 and R?) as will be observed in Fig. 7, and this exposes the lower end of each such sample so that each sample may be compared to another at a glance, noting that the lower end portion 26 of the panel 25 is disposed horizontally for an appreciable extent thereby presentingthe lower end of the rug samples conveniently for comparison.

in achieving the desired display of the rug samples, there are instances where a forward extension of the panel 25 is required in order to enable the required pro gression of lower ends of rug samples or the like to be supported in substantially a horizontal plane for convenient comparisons. Under the present invention, the lower end of the stand 241 is adapted to have removably mounted thereto a forward extension of the panel 25, and such forward extension structure is indicated generally at 1410, Figs. 1 and 7. The extension 1641 includes a panel 131 having the same thickness and width as the panel 25. The rear end of the panel 101 is provided at either side with fingers 1'32 and 1113 which are complemental to the notches 31N mentioned above enabling the end of the panel 1111 to be complementally mated with the strip 31, and preferably a strip 104 is fastened to the bottom of the panel 101 so as to overlap the bottom of the strip 3 1 as shown in Fig. 7.

lust inwardly of its forward edge, the panel 101 is provided with a bottom strip or block 165 which extends substantially from one side of the panel 101 to the other as shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the bottom strip 165 serves to support the front casters 23 that are associated with the forward extension structure 1%.

In detachably associating the front extension structure 106 with the stand 2t two tie rods 110 and 111, Figs. 1 and 7, are passed through corresponding openings in the bottom strip so as to extend in a rearward direction. The tie rods are provided with apertures, and in anchoring the rods to the bottom strip 105 nails are driven upwardly into the strip 105 through the aforementioned apertures in the tie rods. The rear ends of the tie rods 11% and 111 are threaded and extend beyond the rear edge or" the panel 101 as shown in Fig. 5. The bottom strip 30 that is associated with the lower end of the panel 25 is provided with openings through which the rear ends of the tie rods 110 and 111 are passed, and the arrangement is such that when the fingers 102 and 103 are complemented with the notches 31N, the threaded ends of the tie rods 110 and 111 are exposed at the rear edge of the bottom strip 30. A washer 115 and a nut 116, Fig. 5, are'then mounted on the threaded ends of the tie rods 110 and 111, and the nuts 116 are tightened to rigidly associate the forward extension structure 100 with the remaining part of the stand 20.

As shown particularly in Fig. 4, the bar 30 at the forward end of the panel 25 is provided with a pair of spaced apart notches as SON inwardly of the remote ends thereof, and these notches are adapted to receive the forward ends of the ribs 35 and 36. Wood screws as 358 are passed through apertures in the bar 30 that are aligned. with the notches 30N, and in this maner the lower or front ends of the ribs 35 and 36 are secured to the bar 30.

As shown in Fig. 7, the front extension structure 100 is adapted primarily to support the lower ends of rug samples as R4 through R9, the ends of these samples being forwardly of the lower ends of the samples R1, R2 and R3 that were mentioned above. Thus, it will be observed that the ends of the samples R4 through R9 are cascaded, and having established this relation means are afforded upwardly of the lower end of the panel 25 to enable the upper ends of these samples to be fastened to the display panel 25 below the clamp bar 80. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a plurality of openings as 124 and 129 are provided inwardly of either side of the panel 25 in a progressive relation, and the spacing between these openings will correspond to the spacing between the lower ends of the samples R4 through R9. Preferably this spacing is approximately three inches under the present circumstances. The openings as 124 and 129 are adapted to take sheet metal screws which are passed through the upper ends of the samples R4 through R9 to fasten these samples to the display stand below the clamp bar 80 that is used for the uppermost ones of the samples as R1, R2 and R3.

Of particular importance in the present instance is that the ribs 35 and 36 are widened vertically as at 35W, Fig. 7, in the portions that are below the upper extent of the panel 25. In this way a truss effect is afforded between the wall 41 of the support and the ribs where the weight of the rug samples is greatest.

The display stand 20 can handle uppermost samples in addition to the samples R1, R2 and R3, and the lower ends of these can extend in cascade fashion progressively for about two-thirds of the length of the panel 25 upwardly from the lower end 26 thereof. The rear ends of such additional samples will extend beyond the clamp bar 80, but will overhang into the pocket 70 so as to be disposed conveniently therein as afforded by the unimpeded access to the pocket 70. The size of the pocket 70 is adequate to also receive sample books.

Hence, while we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a display stand for rug samples or the like, a substantially S-shaped panel arranged to afford a sample supporting surface that ascends along a gradual slope from a lower end to an upper end, means on the stand adjacent the upper end of the panel to hold the upper extents of the samples so that the lower ends of the samples are cascaded to expose substantially the individual lower ends of the samples for color or design contrast, a base for supporting the upper end of the panel, said base affording the front wall, the rear wall and side walls of a rear pocket of the stand, and ribs anchored to the front wall of said base for supporting; the underside of the panel and being curved complemental to the underside of said panel and extending from said base forwardly substantially to the lower end of the panel, said ribs being widened vertically in the portions beneath the upper extent of said panel and being gradually narrowed vertically in a forward direction.

2. In a display stand for rug samples or the like, a substantially S-shaped one-piece panel arranged to afliord a sample supporting surface that ascends along a gradual and extended S-shaped slope from a substantially horizontal lower end portion to a substantially horizontal upper end portion, a clamping bar mounted above said upper end portion of the panel to hold the upper extents of the samples so that the remaining portions of the samples on the panel are cascaded on the panel to expose substantially the individual lower ends of the samples for color or design contrast, a base arranged in supporting relation below the upper end portion of the panel and to which the upper .end portion of the panel is connected, and a pair of one-piece ribs anchored to said base to support the underside of the panel forwardly of the base and having upper edges curved complemental to the bottom of the panel and extending in contact therewith from the base forwardly substantially to the lower end of the panel, said ribs being widened vertically in the portions beneath the upper extent of the panel forwardly of said upper portion of the panel and being gradually narrowed in a forward direction.

3. A stand according to claim 2 wherein the base has a forward wall to which the ribs are anchored and wherein the base has a divergent rear wall defining a pocket at the rear of the stand having a wide open upper end below and rearward of said clamping bar.

4. In a display stand for rug samples or the like, a substantially S-shaped panel arranged to afford a sample supporting surface for the samples that ascends along a gradual slope from a lower end to an upper end, a clamping bar mounted on the stand above the upper end of the panel to clamp the upper extents of certain of the samples so that the lower ends of the samples on the panel are cascaded to expose the individual lower ends of the samples for color or design contrast, a base for supporting the upper end of the panel, ribs anchored to said base to support the underside of the panel forwardly of the base and having upper edges curved complemental to the underside of said panel and extending in contact therewith from said base forwardly substantially to the lower end of the panel, said ribs being widened vertically in the portions beneath the upper extent of said panel and being gradually narrowed vertically in a for ward direction, and aligned means on the S-shaped panel below said clamping bar to fasten upper ends of those samples having ends cascaded on said forward extension.

5. A stand according to claim 4 wherein the base includes a pair of upwardly diverging front and rear walls, said ribs being anchored to said front wall, said rear wall being shorter than the front wall and affording therewith a pocket having a wide open upper end below and rearward of the rear end of said panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 469,733 Brewer Mar. 1, 1892 796,123 Hinkley Aug. 1, 1905 1,609,839 Scheid Dec. 7, 1926 1,994,981 Cook Mar. 19, 1935 2,301,647 Steinthal Nov. 10, 1942 2,555,986 Miller June 5, 1951 2,643,774 Patterson June 30, 1953 2,654,970 Miller Oct. 13, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 394,065 Germany Apr. 22, 1924 866,755 Germany Feb. 12, 1953 

